August 29, 2009

"Baking Day" Apron!

Here's a fun little apron I made during nap time today. I have a habit of making aprons and then not using them, so they don't get dirty. Maybe it will just have to be my next giveaway.

Here's the how-to!

1) Choose two coordinating fabrics.

In your main fabric cut out:

A skirt piece, 44" x 27"

A bodice, 23" x 11"

In your accent fabric cut:

A waistband, 5"x21"

Two belt ties, 5"x35" (I did mine in the main fabric because I didn't have enough brown accent fabric)

A pocket, 5"x18"

2) Fold the edges of all the pieces over about 1/4" and press them for the seams (with the exception of the top of the skirt piece).

3) Fold the three edges of the skirt piece over again and sew.

4) Using your machine's longest stitch, sew along the top edge of the skirt piece. Pull the top thread to gather until it is about 21".

5) (optional) Fold the ties and waistband in half and press.

6) Open them up again, and sew the tie pieces on either end of the waist piece (right sides together).

7) Sandwich the skirt piece in between the two edges of the waist piece and pin.

8) Starting at the very end of one tie, sew all the way down the open side of the ties and waist piece, then back up the other side to give it a finished look. At this point you should have a finished half-apron, in case you want to make one of those later!

9) Fold your bodice piece in half lengthwise and sew around three of the edges, leaving the bottom open. Pin the bottom of the bodice to the skirt piece as pictured:

10) Sew the bodice to the waistband, directly in the middle.

11) Sew again, a couple of inches above, at the top of the waistband.

11) Hem the top edge of the pocket piece. Then lay the pocket piece on the front of the skirt, where you want it to be, and pin. Using a fabric marker, draw two vertical lines to split the pockets into thirds.

12) Then sew the pocket to the skirt, leaving the top edge open, and sewing along your two marked lines.

13) Hold up the apron and measure the length of ribbon you want around your neck. Fold over the two ends of the ribbon twice, pin to your bodice, and sew back and forth several times.

14) Cut felt in a cupcake shape, sew around edges, and glue to a safety pin(the kind with the flat back).

15) Bake some cupcakes! (But don't get your apron dirty!) :o)

Wow. I think my next project will be to make an apron that is figure-flattering.